How much do field trips to First Fruits Farm cost?

• There is no cost for any of our field trips, but many groups choose to make a donation to help support the efforts of the Farm. Even $5 per person can make a huge impact…in fact, a $300 donation can plant an acre of produce, feeding up to 10,000 people!

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• 100% of any amount you may choose to give goes directly to our Farm operations. Make an online gift or have teachers & students present their gift during their trip for a personal thank you from our team. First Fruits Farm is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

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Can students get service learning hours?

• Absolutely! Thousands of students earn hours here each year. Please bring along any necessary paperwork to be signed, or if your school has a digital tracker, use jenn@firstfruitsfarm.org for approval.

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Do you have to be with a school to come for a field trip?

• Nope! We work with scout troops, homeschool groups, teams, camps, clubs, and more. Any group of children from pre-K through high school age can participate in our programs. The group should be a minimum size of 8, and we do ask for a child/chaperone ratio of 10-1.

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Is your staff prepared to work with children?

• In addition to over 20 years of experience working with volunteer groups of all ages, our Director of Education & Programming is a former classroom teacher, school administrator, and curriculum writer.

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• She has developed our custom content in-house, specially planned to make the most of what First Fruits Farm has to offer for your students.

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• This content is aligned with national, state, and local curriculum standards. View our Field Trip Options page to learn more!

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• All of our FFF staff and volunteers have been screened, and background checks were completed. We do ask your group to provide a 10:1 student/chaperone ratio, and your chaperones are prepared to be active with the group. All hands on deck!

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When should we arrive?

• Field trips are scheduled between 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. or 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., but we can be flexible if needed.

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• We understand that bus schedules, school bells, and travel distance mean we might need to adjust. Please make a note of your arrival and departure time when you register. (Note: July - November, arriving by 9:00 a.m. is preferred and optimal to join in the harvest.)

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Can we eat lunch somewhere?

• Our volunteer pavilion is available for a lunch spot that can seat 100+. The space is shared by all of our volunteers that are on site that day.

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• You are also welcome to take a picnic back to our meadow, found on our nature trails (we suggest each student bring a blanket or towel to sit on).

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• Want to order boxed lunches for delivery? Our friends at Old McDonald had a Farm Stand can do that for you! Order here. (*10% of each order is donated back to FFF.)

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What if my student has an allergy or a mobility issue?

• We do our best to keep everyone safe at the Farm, but please realize we are outdoors…bugs do live here! Students with severe allergies should come prepared for their personal needs for meals, medicine, etc.

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• We do offer basic first aid but each person/group on-site is responsible for their own safety. Students should stay with chaperones and group leaders in designated areas at all times.

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• There are areas on the Farm that are easier to access for those with mobility issues. Many of our activities are accessible for those with casted/wrapped broken arms or those in a wheelchair. View our All-Abilities section for information on how students with special needs can get involved in meaningful ways.

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Are any other safety measures in place?

• Thousands of volunteers come to the Farm each year. We do have accessible restrooms in a number of locations, as well as mobile restrooms available in each workspace.

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• Fire extinguishers are present as required by code.

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• Our walking trails are covered with a layer of mulch or stone, however the fields are slightly uneven terrain as expected.

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• AEDs are on site, and our staff is trained in CPR and First Aid.

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• View our Safety Video and feel free to share with your students.

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